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County, HVAC company meet to make sure 'prison is safe' after carbon monoxide leak

Commissioner Doug Hoke said officials are still trying to determine what happened during late-night incident this week.

By TIM STONESIFERDaily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
11/25/2012 07:06:14 AM EST

York, PA -

York County officials met with a team from a Harrisburg-based heating and cooling company on Friday to determine what caused a carbon monoxide leak at York County Prison that sent dozens to the hospital.

Commissioner Doug Hoke, also president of the county's prison board, said he and prison officials met with the president of the McClure Co. and a group of engineers to discuss the leak, which sent 49 female inmates to area hospitals late Wednesday night.

So far, Hoke said Friday morning, it's still unclear exactly what happened.

"Right now we're looking at making sure the prison is safe for all the inmates," he said. "But I can't tell you technically what happened yet, because we just don't know."

Hoke said the McClure Co. had been performing efficiency upgrades to the prison's heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. County officials have said the cause of the gas leak was believed to be associated with the HVAC system.

Commissioners selected McClure in September to make cost-saving changes at several county buildings, Hoke said.

"I'm not sure if they've started the other projects," Hoke said. "I know they're not yet halfway done."

When asked who would pay for the costs incurred from the incident and whether it would affect McClure's work with the county, county spokesman Carl Lindquist said Friday evening he didn't know who would pay and couldn't comment on McClure's work with the county.

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Lindquist referred questions to McClure Co.

McClure Co. officials did not return calls and emails seeking comment on Friday. Prison warden Mary Sabol could not be reached for comment.

York County spokesman Carl Lindquist said the affected area of the prison is expected to re-open next week. The prisoners from that area will remain relocated within the facility until then, he said.

"McClure is working on the HVAC system that services the unit and is believed to be the source of the (carbon monoxide)," Lindquist said in an email.

The female dormitory, where the leak occurred, houses about 90 women, Prison Warden Mary Sabol has said. The situation began around 11 p.m. Wednesday when emergency responders were called to the prison for reports of a gas leak.

As of 3:15 p.m. Thursday, all inmates had returned to prison, according to a county news release.

Officials will be looking at additional safety measures, Hoke said. Those include installing carbon monoxide detectors in the prison or having prison workers carry detectors, he said.

"We talked about do we need another layer, do we need more safety precautions to make sure this doesn't happen again," he said.

County officials will also be considering costs related to the leak, which include extra staffing and hospital bills, Hoke said. He declined to say who might foot those bills.

"Once we find out what happened, there will be discussions with the appropriate people," he said. "We'll look at recouping any costs we can."